These symbols are on some of your
controls:
Windshield Wiper
Windshield Washer
Windshield Defroster
Rear Window Wiper
and Washer
Rear Window Wiper
Rear Window Defogger Ventilating Fan Recirculate
Inside
Air
Circulate
Outside Air
Bi-Level
Vent
Heater
These symbols are used on warning and
indicator
lights:
Engine Coolant Temperature
Battery Charging System
Fl
Fuel
Engine Oil Pressure
Brake (Canada) Daytime Running Lights
.***to
(Canada) **e
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NOTICE:
Holding your key in “START” for
longer than 15 seconds at a time will
cause your battery to be drained
much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold
your key
in “ START” for about three
seconds at a time until your engine
starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each
try to help avoid draining your
battery.
If your engine still won’t start, call your
dealer for help.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you
add electrical parts or accessories,
you could change the way
the fuel
injection system operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check
with your dealer. If you don’t, your
engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle
towed, see the part of this manual
that tells how to do
it without damag-
ing your vehicle. See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
)riving through Deep Standing
Water Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heatel‘) (CANADA)
In very
cold weather, 0 OF (- 1 8 O C) or
colder, the engine coolant heater can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged in a minimum
of four hours
prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
110-volt outlet.
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles
or standing water, water can
come in through your engine’s air
intake and badly damage your
engine.
If you can’t avoid deep
puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
41 ..
ProCarManuals.com
Ensure the shift lever is fully in “F‘”
(Park) range before starting the engine.
Your Geo has a brake-transmission shift
interlock.
You have to fully apply your
regular brakes before you can shift from
“P” (Park) when the ignition key is in the
“ON’ position. If you cannot shift out of
“P’ (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever
- push the shift lever all the way
into
“P’ (Park) and release the shift lever
button as you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into the gear you
wish. See “Shifting out of ‘P’ (Park)”
in
the Index.
0 R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
I NOTICE:
Shifting to “R” (Reverse) while your
vehicle is moving forward could
damage your transmission. Shift to
“R” only after your vehicle is
stopped.
~~
To rock your vehicle back and forth to gel
out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transmission, see “Stuck:
In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
t
0 N (Neutral)
In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when
you’re already moving, use
“N’ (Neutral)
only. Also, use “N” when your vehicle is
being towed.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused
by shifting out of “P” (Park) or
“N’
(Neutral) with the engine racing isn’t
covered by your warranty.
0 D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 15 mph
(25
km/h), push your accelerator peda
about halfway down.
- Going about 15 mph (25 km/h) or
more, push your accelerator pedal all
the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
0 2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use “2” on
hills.
It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use your
brakes off and on.
Don’t shift into “2” unless you are
going slower than
65 mph
( 105 km/h) with the transfer case in
“4H’ or 35 mph (55 km/h) with the
transfer case in “4L,” or you can
damage your transmission.
43.
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Features and Controls
L (Low Gear)
This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
“2.” You
can use it on very steep hills, or
in deep
snow
or mud. If the selector lever is put il
“L,” the transmission won’t shift into low
gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
n
NOTICE:
Don’t shift into “L,” (Low) at speeds
above 40 mph
(65 km/h) with the
transfer case
in “4L,” or you can
damage your transmission.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t
try to drive. This might happen if you
were stuck in very deep sand or mud
or were up against
a solid object. You
could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill,
don’t hold your vehicle there
with
only the accelerator pedal. This could
overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes to hold
your vehicle
in position on a hill.
F
Manual Transmission
ive-Speed
is is your shift pattern. Here’s how to
erate your transmission:
1 (First Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal and shift into
“1.” Then, slowly
let up on
the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into
“I” when you’re
going less than
20 mph (32 km/h). If
you’ve come to a complete stop and
it’s hard to shift into
“1,” put the shift
lever
in “Neutral” and let up on the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back
down. Then shift into
“ 1 .”
0
0
0
0
0
2 (Second Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal as
you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into
“2.” Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
3,4 and 5 (Third, Fourth and Fifth
Gears)
- Shift into “3,” “4” and “5”
the same way you do for “2.” Slowly
let up on the clutch p6dal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
To Stop - Let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brGke pedal. Just
before
the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and
shift to “Neutral.”
Neutral - Use this position when
you start or idle your engine.
R (Reverse) - To back up, press
down the clutch pedal and shift into
“R.” Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
You cannot go from
“5” (Fifth Gear) into
“R” (Reverse). If you try, you will be
locked out. You must first shift into
“Neutral,” move the lever to
the left, back
to the right, and then shift into
“R”
(Reverse). This is a safety feature.
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I NOTICE:
I
Shift to “R” (Reverse) only after your
vehicle is stopped. Shifting
to “R”
(Reverse) while your vehicle is mov-
ing could damage your transmission.
Also, use
“R’ (Reverse) along with the
parking brake for parking your vehicle.
Shiff Speeds (MANUAL TRANSMISSION)
This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear for best fuel economy.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS, IN MPH (km/h)
Acceleration Shift Speed Cruise Shift Speed
Engine
1 to2 2 to3 3 to 4 4 to5 2 to3 3 to 4
1.6L L4 15 26 35 45 4
to 5
16-valve (24) (40) (64) (72) (63
to 72) (48
to 56)
1.6L
L4
15 25 40 45 (32 to 42) 39
to 45
30 to 35
8-valve (24) (42) (56) (72) 20 to 26
If your speed drops below 20 mph (30 km/h), or if the engine is not running smoothly,
you should downshift to the next lower gear.
You may have to downshift two or more
gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for good performance.
.NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when
you downshift,
or if you race the
engine when you downshift, you can
damage the clutch or transmission.
I
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Automatic
With automatic freewheeling hubs, you
don’t have to get out of the vehicle to lock
or unlock the hubs.
To lock the hubs:
1. Stop your vehicle.
2. Shift the transfer case to “4H’ or
“4L.”
3. Drive slowly forward and the hubs
will lock.
To unlock the hubs:
1. Stop your vehicle.
2. Drive seven feet (two meters) in the
direction opposite to the direction you
were driving before you stopped.
3. Then, press the clutch if you have a
manual transmission, and shift the
transfer case to
“2H.” The hubs will
unlock.
rransfer Case
?he transfer case shift lever is on the floor
o the right of the driver. Use this lever to
hift into and out of four-wheel drive. An
ndicator light comes on when the transfer
:ase is in
“4H’ or “4L.”
!H: This setting is for driving in most
treet and highway situations. Your front
.xle is not engaged in two-wheel drive.
IH: This setting engages your front axle
o help drive your vehicle. Use “4”’
vhen you need extra traction, such as on
vet or
icy roads, or in most off-road
ituations.
q: Shift to this setting only when your
rehicle needs to
be towed.
4L: This setting also engages your front
axle to give you extra traction, but should
be used only for driving downhill or on
slippery, surfaces when you’re driving
slower than
35 mph (55 km/h).
Remember that driving in
“4H” or “4L”
may reduce fuel economy. Also, driving
in four-wheel drive on dry pavement
could cause your tires to wear faster and
make your transfer case harder to shift.
You can shift from
“2H” to “4H’ or from
“4W’ to “2H” at any speed if your hubs
are locked and your wheels are straight
ahead. Your front axle will engage faster
if you take your foot off the accelerator
pedal for a few seconds as you shift.
To shift into or out of 4L:
1. Stop your vehicle and shift your
transmission to
“N” (Neutral).
2. Shift the transfer case in one
continuous motion.
Don’t pause in
“N’ as you shift into
“4H,” or your gears could clash.
ProCarManuals.com
Features and Controls
Instrument Panel and
Clusters
Your instrument cluster is designed to let
you know at a glance how your ve.hicle is
running. You'll know how fast you're
going, about how much fuel you have left
H
and many other things you'll need to
know to drive safely and economically.
Optional Cluster
If you have the optional cluster, your
instrument panel gives you additional
information. The cluster includes a
tachometer.
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed
in both miles per hour (mph) and
kilometers per hour
(kmh). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven,
in either miles (used in the
U.S.) or kilometers (used in Canada).
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1s I FUELONLY UNLEADED [I
UNLEADED-
J
FUEL ONLY
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage shows about how much
fuel is in your tank. When the gage first
indicates “E,” you still have a little fuel
left (about one or two gallons), but you
need to get more right away.
Here are four concerns some owners have
had about the fuel gage. All these
situations are normal and do not indicate
that anything is wrong with the
fuel gage,
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts
off before the gage reads
“F.”
It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up
than
the gage reads. For example, the
gage reads half full, but it took more
(or less) than half
of the tank’s
capacity to fill it.
J
0
0
The gage moves a little when you
turn, stop
or speed up.
When you turn the engine
off, the
gage doesn’t go back to “E.”
~~
Brake System Warning Light
four Geo’s hydraulic brake system is
livided into two parts. If one part isn’t
vorking, the other part can still work and
;top you. For good braking, though, you
leed both parts working well.
four vehicle also has rear-wheel anti-lock
)rakes. If the warning light comes on,
here could be a brake problem with eithel
[our regular or rear-wheel anti-lock
)rakes, or both. Have your brake system
nspected right away.
rhis light should come on as you start the
lehicle.
If it doesn’t come on then, have ii
ixed
so it will be ready to warn you if
here’s a problem.
r
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